Last



M. COOPER Jan. 29, 1935.

LAST

Original. Filed Aug. 19, 1952 Patented Jan. 29, 1935 PATENT oFFicE LAST Morris Cooper, Chicago, 111.; Joseph Zowatsky administrator of said Morris Cooper, deceased Application August 19, 1932, Serial No.'t29,516 Renewed August 30, 1934 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a last and to the shoe made thereon.

Shoes as universally manufactured are unduly high below the vamp or arch-supporting portion of the sole on the inner side of the shoe and have too tight and unyielding engagement with the adjacent portion of the foot and tend to distort the foot by urging the same toward the outersides of the shoes, with the result that such shoes are uncomfortable to the wearer and the shape of the shoe is soon destroyed. Accordingly, the feet are weakened and the use of cushions, arch supports and other corrective means are resorted to. I

- The present invention aims to overcome the ob jections mentioned and the necessity of using any corrective or additional meansat any time since it provides a shoe which fits and accommodates the arch, ball and forepart of the foot in a'natural position while standing, walking or running, giving maximum comfort to the wearer without weakening the foot and also allowing the shoe to flex at the same relative point at which the foot itself flexes to the end that the foot will not crowd or be urged to one side and the graceful shape of the shoe will be preserved.

More specifically it is aimed -to provide a shoe.

in which the upper surface of the innersole at opposite sides will be equidistant from the, ground while the heel is in flat contact with the ground, in which there is greater space about the inner side and bottom of the instep and in which there is greater toe room at the outer side of the shoe.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a. consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment. Although the invention is applicable to both right and left feet, it has been shown only in connection with a last and shoe for the right foot.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing the inner side of the last in elevation, and showing in section, a shoe made thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the last;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken through the last alone on the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or simi- .lar parts, designates a last of .wood or any shown as made in one piece but which obviously maybe made composite, sectional, adjustable or in any well known way.

According to my invention the base of the heel 11 on the last is flat or plane from side to side and end to end as shown, the shank 12 and forward portion 13 completing the sole, and as A far as practical being similar on opposite sides of the longitudinal median line M-L of the sole, so that as best shown in Figure 3, the outer edge E at each side of the forward portion 13 is the same i distance above a plane parallel to the plane of heel 11 and the lower surface of portion 13 will transversely follow relatively flat arcs described from centers in the plane M-L. In addition the arch is thickened partly on the inner side and under surface as at 14 and the side and upper surface of the forward portion of thelast is thickened as at 15. The usual last has its lower surface at the forward portion terminate along the dotted line 16 and hence the side edges of'such portion are not equidistant above a plane parallel to that of the surfacell, so that a shoe made thereon must be twisted and distorted by the foot as the forward portion of the sole engages the ground during walking or running.

The objections provided in the shoe by the enlargements 14 and 15. The surface of v the usual last terminates along dotted line 1'7.

A shoe made on the last is suggested at S in Figures 1 and 3 and it will be noted that the heel 18, shank l9, -forward portion 20 of the sole and all portions of the upper 21 conform intimately to the shape of the last to the end that, like in the last, the inner surface of the forwardp'ortion bf the insole 22 and the shank as far as possible are at their side edges equidistant from a plane parallel to that of the plane of the insole or heelwill maintain the foot centered'and free without.

urge toward either side. The improved shoe fits the arch, ball and forepart of the foot while the latter is flat and in normal condition at all times, that is, while standing, walking or running and the shoe flexes at the. same relative point at which the foot itself flexes.

Obviously the improvements may be incorporated into shoes for those of all ages and par:

they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A shoe last having the base of the heel thereof disposed in a plane, the forward part of the upper portion being substantially similar in size and shape on opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the shoe last and of substantially normal longitudinal curvature at the sole portion, the side edges of said sole portion at transversely aligned points being equidistant from an imaginary extension of said plane, and a thickened portion at the shank of the last extending substantially from said longitudinal median line up the girth at the inner side edge portion of the last to provide corresponding space within a shoe built on the last.

2. A shoe last having a thickened portion at the arch extending up the girth at the inner side of the last substantially from the longitudinal median line of the last at the lower surface.

3. A shoe last according to claim 1 with said thickened portion also extending along the tread of the sole primarily adjacent the inner side edge and progressively decreasing in thickness toward the outer side edge.

- 4. A shoe last according to claim 1 with said thickened portion also extending along the tread of the sole primarily adjacent the inner side edge and progressively decreasing in thickness toward the outer side edge and also from the shank to the toe of the last.

MORRIS COOPER. 

